Hunting outlook good, hunters encouraged to report signs of New World screwworm

This relatively positive outlook comes at a time of heightened concern for wildlife following confirmed cases of New World screwworm in Texas this June.

“The timing of these positive New World screwworm cases came at a bad time, with fawning season overlapping with the presence of screwworm,” said Marcus Blum, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide wildlife specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. “This left both fawns and does vulnerable.”

Hunters asked to watch for signs of New World screwworm

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of NWS in wildlife. While Blum said there have likely been undetected cases in wildlife, the lack of cases are a positive sign indicating the pest has not established itself in wildlife populations enough to have a widespread effect.

“Containment efforts and the distribution of sterile flies are undoubtedly helping to prevent the spread of New World screwworm, and I know landowners, ranchers and biologists are conducting intense wildlife monitoring for signs of infestation,” he said. “It’s just really difficult to get your eyes on every part of each free-ranging animal regularly as you can with livestock.”

Blum said the state’s more than half a million white-tailed deer hunters alone will provide an added layer of valuable wildlife observations this fall.

Dove outlook near record highs

This year’s dove season opens statewide on Sept. 1 with estimated near-record-high populations of both mourning and white-winged doves.

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Spring population surveys by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department indicate the state is home to 36.7 million mourning doves — a 2% increase from last year.

White-winged dove estimates increased 10% to 12.9 million birds.

White-tailed deer growth amid drought

This spring started dry for much of Texas, with 84% of the state in some form of drought during the first full week of April. Thankfully, significant summer rainfall across hard-hit areas of drought in the Edwards Plateau and southwest part of the state provided some relief and aided in vegetation and browse recovery for deer.

Blum said the timing of rains is critical to ensure adequate vegetation growth to support late gestation and lactation in does, as well as antler development in bucks.

“We see the most substantial antler growth in bucks during June through early August, so availability of high-quality forage is very important for optimal growth,” Blum said. “Hopefully, the summer rains helped vegetation respond in the areas that didn’t see the spring green-up they were hoping for.

“Overall, I think deer hunters can anticipate a solid season throughout much of the state.”

Quail

Although the results of the annual statewide quail survey aren’t yet available, Blum said he anticipates an average outlook overall based on summer precipitation.

“June was a really good month for rainfall across a lot of areas, and that’s an important time for brood rearing,” he said.

Blum explained that timely rain is key to not only support vegetation for nesting and brood cover, but for insect populations that quail rely on for food.

Spring call counts conducted at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation’s 4,800-acre ranch noted a decrease in total bobwhite quail calls per stop — from 92 calls per stop in 2025, to 43 in 2026.

Blum said quail populations are heavily influenced by precipitation and fluctuate based on rainfall patterns. The drop in quail calls documented by the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation can at least be partially attributed to the below-average rainfall seen across that region this year.

Turkey

Due to a decline in wild turkey populations across the state, annual bag limits were changed earlier this year to allow the harvest of only gobblers and bearded hens in counties where either sex is currently open for hunting.

Jason Hardin, wild turkey program leader with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said initial observations from summer surveys indicate growing birds and new additions to populations across the state.

“Birds hatched late across a lot of South Texas due to a drought early in the spring, but by April, rains turned that around long enough to get some production,” Hardin said. “I anticipate numbers to be somewhat down in several regions this year, but with such a low harvest rate in Texas, and three average- to above-average years of recruitment, there are a lot of birds on the landscape.”

Reporting potential New World screwworm cases critical to protecting wildlife

Blum said hunters will play an even more important role in wildlife conservation as they take to the field this year by helping expand monitoring for signs of New World screwworm in wildlife.

“Hunters are already critical to the conservation and management of our state’s wildlife species, but this year, their time scouting and observing wildlife is even more important,” he said. “Reporting any sign of potential infestation is vital to helping biologists and other state and federal officials respond and prevent its spread.”

Any suspected signs of New World screwworm in wildlife should immediately be reported by contacting your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist or calling 512-389-4505.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Panhandle

Hot, dry weather held across the district, with daytime highs reaching 103 degrees and overnight lows in the 60s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Rain was needed badly. Showers that passed through parts of the district delivered beneficial moisture to crops in the final stages of reproductive development, though amounts varied widely. Forage choppers were on the move as growers cut corn and sorghum for silage ahead of further declines in forage quality brought on by heat, dryness and disease pressure. Most cotton had passed the effective flowering stage and was filling bolls. Additional rain will be needed to rebuild soil moisture ahead of small grain planting in the next few weeks. Corn, cotton and sorghum were in very poor to fair condition. Pasture, rangeland and livestock conditions were very poor to good.

South Plains

Triple-digit heat and drought continued, and rainfall was sporadic and insufficient. Some areas picked up close to 1 inch while others received nothing at all. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to short. Silage chopping in corn and sorghum accelerated as producers raced to cut fields before they dried down further, and grain corn and sorghum harvest advanced as fields became ready. Irrigation ran at full capacity. Dryland cotton struggled badly. The best cotton in the district was under irrigation, but even some irrigated fields were falling behind. Cotton in some areas ran from five nodes above white flower to hard cut-out, and extreme heat caused plants to shed fruit. Much of the sorghum crop never reached heading and was baled or grazed instead. Corn leafhoppers were found in corn fields and spider mite damage pushed some corn acres to silage. Also, garden webworms drew concern from producers and homeowners. Peanuts were pegging and in fair condition. Cattle received supplemental nutrition where pastures had no grass left. Pastures and rangeland were in very poor to fair condition, and livestock conditions were very poor to good.

Rolling Plains

Extreme heat and drought continued, with daily highs reaching 105 to near 110 degrees, and drying winds compounded the stress. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Forecasts called for temperatures above 100 degrees for another two weeks with little chance of rain. Measurable precipitation fell in a few areas over the weekend, but temperatures rebounded immediately. Grass was burning up, and Bermuda grass hay fields and pastures were going dormant. Dryland cotton fields were past the point of recovery in many areas. Corn and milo harvest was complete, with corn making 65-75 bushels per acre on high ground and 95-105 bushels in the bottoms; sorghum ran from 3,500-4,800 pounds per acre. Grass fires were reported daily in some areas. Stock tanks and ponds were dry or nearly dry, and submersible pumps could not keep up with livestock demand. Hay and protein supplementation moved into full swing as forage quality declined. Hay fields in a few areas were being readied for a second cutting. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair, and livestock conditions were very poor to good.

North

Numerous consecutive 100-degree days and persistent wind dried soils rapidly across the district. Some areas had gone nearly 60 days without measurable rainfall, and only spotty showers fell during the week. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Corn was in good to excellent condition and soybeans were fair to good. Corn harvest was complete with very good yields reported, and soybean harvest was well underway, with dryland soybean yields described as some of the best seen in some areas. Sunflower harvest was nearly finished. Hay harvest continued. Pasture and hay field conditions declined as Bermuda grass and native grasses turned dormant, though shaded ground held on somewhat. Ponds and stock tanks dwindled. Burn bans were in place in some counties. Livestock held up well despite the forage situation, though the heat put increasing stress on cattle. Pastures and rangeland were very poor to good, and livestock conditions were fair to good.

East

Triple-digit heat and prolonged dryness gripped the district, with highs at or above 100 degrees nearly every day with overnight lows in the 70s. Scattered rain fell in a few areas but totaled less than 1 inch and did nothing to relieve drought conditions. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Burn bans were in effect in several counties, and fire danger was extremely high. Ponds, creeks, lakes and rivers dropped, and some small stock ponds went dry. Pastures were going dormant and trees were dropping leaves. Standing forage remained adequate in parts of the district, but quality declined as grasses dried and matured, and producers began feeding hay where forage ran short. Hay baling slowed, with moderate yields and fair to good quality. Irrigated watermelon harvest was winding down. Producers scouted for pasture pests and reported sporadic fall armyworm infestations along with gopher and feral hog activity. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good, and livestock conditions were poor to excellent. Cattle markets were mixed — steers and heifers ran fully $3-$7 higher per hundredweight at one sale barn, while feeder calves elsewhere were $5-$10 per hundredweight lower and packer cows and bulls softened about $5 per hundredweight. The goat and sheep market stayed active at $100-$350 per head.

Far West

Conditions varied sharply across the district. Extreme heat dominated, with one area recording 15 days over 100 degrees and another averaging 100 degrees for the week, the hottest of the season. Highs reached the mid-90s at higher elevations and around 100 degrees at lower elevations. Rain fell in parts of the district, with some locations picking up more than a half inch, while other areas saw constant dry winds and no precipitation at all. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Irrigation could not keep pace with crop water demand in drier areas and plants wilted early in the morning while dryland fields stayed wilted through the night under warm overnight temperatures. Cotton continued under irrigation through the final stages of flowering and boll set. Several fields opened bolls early because of the heat, but many bolls opened only partially and will not be harvestable. In the El Paso area, both Pima and upland cotton looked good, and the overall crop load was average or above. Corn harvest continued with very good yields, while grain sorghum yields were very poor. A few watermelon fields were still being harvested at much lower yields as vines declined. Pecan orchards carried a heavy crop load, and producers were preparing for the season. Pecan weevils were sprayed. Scattered showers pushed pigweed and grass in alfalfa, prompting early cutting or herbicide applications. Pastures were bare in some areas and browning in others, with growth at a standstill, and cattle body condition declined. Pastures and rangeland were in very poor to good condition overall, and livestock conditions were poor to good.

West Central

Triple-digit heat continued across the district, with temperatures above 100 degrees for more than three consecutive weeks in some areas and 10 straight days in others. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Overnight lows stayed in the 90s in parts of the district, and cattle spent most of the day in the shade. Drought conditions continued, and the extended forecast offered no relief. Wildfire danger was extreme. Heavy fuel loads left over from early season forage growth compounded the risk, and two fires were reported in one area during the week. Cotton was in poor to fair condition and declining in most areas due to lack of moisture. Sorghum was headed across most of the district, and harvest had begun. Pasture mealybug infestations continued to drive pasture decline in some areas. Pecan trees showed stress during a critical water-use stage. Pastures and rangeland were very poor to good, and livestock conditions were poor to excellent. Most producers were feeding hay and protein, and livestock held their condition as grass matured and quality fell. Water was becoming a concern for ranchers who depend on ponds. Cattle markets remained active with good demand. Stocker steers sold steady to $5 lower per hundredweight, lightweight stocker heifers ran $4-$5 higher per hundredweight and the balance of stocker heifers were $5-$7 lower. Feeder steers and heifers were steady to $7 lower per hundredweight, packer cows and bulls were $2-$4 lower per hundredweight, and pairs and bred cows held steady.

Central

Daily temperature highs ranged from 100 to 107 degrees, and a couple of days set all-time records. Topsoil moisture was very short to adequate while subsoil conditions were very short to surplus. Persistent wind and low humidity drained soil moisture. Grass growth halted, dryland fields turned brown, and Bermuda grass went dormant. Fire danger reached a critical point. Corn harvest was nearly complete, with yields average to above average outside areas hit earlier by freeze and hail, and sorghum harvest followed close behind. Cotton matured rapidly and harvest began on a limited basis, with insect pressure easing as fields neared defoliation. Pecan trees began dropping nuts where irrigation could not keep pace with the arid conditions. Pastures and rangeland were very poor to fair, and livestock conditions were very poor to excellent. Hay harvest came to a halt for lack of moisture and regrowth, and producers watched hay inventories closely. Pasture mealybug pressure was heavy in some areas, with substantial losses reported, while other areas reported none. Stock tanks dropped quickly and stream flows fell below normal. Cattle conditions declined as forage disappeared, and producers increased supplemental feeding while managing heat stress with adequate water and shade. Cattle markets held strong at favorable prices, and sheep and goat markets were steady with good demand.

Southeast

Topsoil moisture was very short to surplus, and subsoil conditions were short to surplus. Hot, dry weather dominated the district and pulled moisture out of soils quickly. Thunderstorms rolled through parts of the district over the weekend but produced mostly lightning and little rain. Burn bans were implemented in several counties, with more expected. Row crops progressed normally. Corn harvest was wrapping up, and rice harvest advanced. Hay cutting finally picked up as conditions allowed. Pond levels dropped. Pastures and hay fields declined under the extended dry stretch. Pasture mealybug remained an issue and turned up in additional pastures. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to good, and livestock conditions were fair to excellent.

Southwest

Temperatures were in the 100s for much of the week, with little breeze and a high evaporation rate. Most of the district received no measurable rainfall. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Corn and sorghum harvest continued and was complete in some areas. Cotton bolls were opening across the district, and the crop rebounded where fields had flooded earlier in the season. Creeks and rivers were still running strong in parts of the district. Hay production wound down as the last of the second cutting was baled. A few producers prepared fields for small grains to be planted in the next two weeks. Rangeland grasses matured under the heat and raised wildfire danger. Pasture mealybug damage worsened in hay fields, pastures, rangeland and home lawns, hitting bluestem varieties the hardest. Pasture and rangeland conditions were poor to good, and livestock conditions were fair to good. Livestock shipping continued, and producers supplemented as pastures dried out. Whitetail deer stayed in good condition and hit feeders hard as range conditions declined.

Coastal Bend

Hot, dry weather held for another week, and soil moisture plummeted. Topsoil moisture was very short to adequate while subsoil conditions were very short to surplus. The dryness hurt ranchers but benefited cotton farmers. Cotton harvest ran well ahead, with gin yards operating at full scale and round modules stacked in fields awaiting transport. Some fields had not yet received a first defoliation and were several weeks from being finished. Quality and quantity suffered in some areas because of excessive rain earlier in the growing season. Corn and rice harvests neared completion. Corn yield averages were fair to good outside fields that were too far gone when the rains came. Sorghum harvest was finished. Hay harvest slowed, but drying times were fast and a lot of hay was rolled up. Range and pasture conditions deteriorated rapidly and grasses were browning, though grazeable forage remained in some areas. Pastures and rangeland were in very poor to excellent condition overall, and livestock conditions were fair to excellent. Pastures under pasture mealybug pressure were in worse condition than those free of the pest or already treated. Pecan trees shed nuts early, and whiteflies were reported in home citrus. Cattle conditions began to slip as forage declined and cows nursed big spring-born calves, though many producers were short stocked. Burn bans were in place in some counties.

South

Triple-digit heat and dry, windy conditions persisted across the district, with no rainfall reported in most counties. Topsoil and subsoil moisture were very short to adequate. Much of the Lower Rio Grande Valley remained in moderate drought, and conditions deepened to severe drought in some areas. Wildfire danger increased, with multiple grass fires reported during the week and ungrazed standing forage adding to the risk. Corn and grain sorghum harvests were nearly complete. Cotton harvest continued, with most of the crop harvested in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and some fields were making average to above-average yields. Heat took a toll on late-planted cotton fields. Sesame and sunflower harvests progressed. Peanuts continued to peg under irrigation, and cotton bloomed and progressed under irrigation. Citrus and hay producers irrigated, and vegetable growers prepared fields for fall planting. Farmers who finished harvest began tilling for the next crop. Pastures dried and turned brittle. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to good, and livestock conditions were poor to good. Stock tanks fell to emergency levels, and some ranchers hauled water daily. Supplemental feeding of hay, protein, mineral and cottonseed increased for both livestock and wildlife. Cattle markets softened, with feeder cattle prices down roughly 5-15 cents per pound and slaughter cows and bulls down 2-5 cents per pound. Fawning and the quail and turkey hatches were complete, and record-high dove populations were reported ahead of the season.